Today’s News

PHOTO: First Look at The Flash's Arrow Debut. Plus: New Details on Flash Pilot

Oliver Queen is getting some super help next month on Arrow — and we've got an early look!

The Dec. 4 episode of The CW drama, titled "The Scientist," will feature the debut of Barry Allen, aka The Flash, played by Glee alum Grant Gustin. As seen in photos released Monday, Central City police scientist Barry comes to town to help Oliver (Stephen Amell) and his team investigate a robbery at Queen Consolidated's Applied Sciences Division. According to the episode description, Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) will be especially impressed with Barry, which does not get unnoticed by Oliver. Uh-oh! Do we smell a super-smackdown over a lady in the near future?

The first look at Barry Allen's debut comes just after news broke that plans have changed for The CW's planned pilot for The Flash spin-off. Gustin's character was originally set to appear in three episodes of Arrow this season — the third which would serve as a backdoor pilot for his character. However, following positive reaction to Barry's first two appearances, The CW has opted to film a separate standalone pilot that will allow more time to devote to The Flash's story, Deadline reports. However, this also means fans will have to wait longer to see Barry Allen in his famous red costume — a reveal that was supposed to happen in Barry's third Arrow appearance in Episode 20 and will now happen in the pilot.

Arrow airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW.

(Full disclosure: TVGuide.com is owned by CBS, one of The CW's parent companies.)